Hundreds of sailors arrived home to a warm welcome as HMCS Athabaskan sailed into Halifax Harbour Thursday morning.
Friends and family members dotted the waterfront and were invited to climb aboard once the ship made its way into port.
Annick Vachon was eager to see her son after spending seven weeks apart.
“I’m just really anxious to see him. I don’t know how happy he is I’m here, but I’m his mom so I’m going to show up regardless,” she said.
Travis Weir said he is looking forward to spending the weekend relaxing with his children and wife, who was aboard the ship.
“Probably just relax, hang out with the kids, depending on the weather, whatever she wants to do I guess,” said Weir.
HMCS Athabaskan spent seven weeks in the Caribbean as part of Operation CARIBBE, Canada’s contribution to a multinational campaign drug illicit trafficking by organized crime in the Caribbean basin and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Canadian Armed Forces has been conducting Operation CARIBBE since November 2006.
The ship supported multiple aircraft patrol sorties, and participated in six intercept operations, one of which resulted in the successful disruption of 820 kg of cocaine.
“That particular vessel went and saw us and then took off the other way and was then intercepted by our Colombian neighbours,” said Cmdr. Matt Plaschka.
The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed seven warships as part of Operation CARIBBE 2014. Their contributions have resulted in the seizure or disruption of more than six metric tonnes of cocaine to date.
HMCS Athabaskanspent 53 days away from home and 37 days at sea, sailing 14,623 nautical miles.
A recent $21-million refit is expected to keep the ship going another five years.
